MEDIA RELEASE

A 31-year-old Puna man and an unidentified female died Thursday (August 19, 2004) of injuries sustained in a two-car traffic crash that occurred on Volcano Highway (Route 11) about three-tenths of a mile south of the 25-mile marker near Volcano, Hawaii.

Responding to a 5:26 p.m. call, Puna police determined that a white Mitsubishi four-door sedan being driven by Stanley Keliiholokai was traveling in the Hilo direction on the highway near Nahelenani Street. Keliiholokai tried to pass several vehicles in a no-passing zone. He could not negotiate the pass and collided head-on with a tan Chevrolet two-door sedan driven by Rogelio Manahan of New York. Both drivers were transported to the Hilo Medical Center in critical condition.

The male victim, identified as Clinton Kaleiwahea, 31, of Volcano, was the front seat passenger in Keliiholokai’s vehicle. The female victim, who remains unidentified, was the front seat passenger in Manahan’s vehicle.

Speed and alcohol are believed to be factors in this traffic collision. Anyone with information or who witnessed this incident is asked to call Acting Sergeant Norbert Serrao Jr. of the Traffic Enforcement Unit at (898) 961-2332.

Thursday’s deaths were the 26th and 27th traffic fatalities on the Big Island so far this year, compared to 16 at the same time last year.